AthFest Venues

Posted: Thursday, June 19, 2008

1. 40 Watt Club

285 W. Washington St. (ages 18 and older)

DETAILS: Born out of a homemade club at the crash pad of Curtis Crowe (drummer of Pylon), this club is in its fourth phase. The primary performance space for many bands in Athens' alt-rock heyday, the fabulous 40 Watt is considered instrumental in fostering Athens' music scene.

2. Blur

227 W. Dougherty St. (ages 18 and older)

DETAILS: Located in what last year was Detour, this new club is all about the dance, with dance parties Thursday through Saturdays and according to its MySpace, "features something for everyone." Learn more at www.myspace.com/blurathens.

3. Caledonia Lounge

256 W. Clayton St. (ages 18 and older)

DETAILS: True old-schoolers remember this space as one of the four incarnations of the original 40 Watt Club, but after more than five years of featuring a wide variety of bands and musical styles, the Caledonia more than holds its own.

4. Ciné

234 W. Hancock Ave. (all ages)

DETAILS: The coolest indie movie theater in town, the space is equipped with its own music venue, Cinélab, where shows and exhibits abound.

5. DARC Recording Studio

393 Finley St. (all ages)

DETAILS: An acronym for Downtown Athens Recording Company, DARC is located in the building that houses Big City Bread and has an impressive roster of artists, among them The Ginger Envelope, Dark Meat, Lake City, Summer Hymns and the list goes on. Check it out here: www.darcsound.com.

6. Farm 255

255 W. Washington St. (ages 18 and older)

DETAILS: The tasty vittles at this restaurant all come from local, seasonable and sustainable sources, its bar is large and friendly, and its outdoor stage provides the ideal launching pad for an eclectic blend of jazz, blues and acoustic artists.

7. Flicker Theatre

263 W. Washington St. (ages 21 and older)

DETAILS: Flicker proves that the best things come in small packages. While movies and acoustic music represent the venue's general fare, Flicker has been known to feature puppet shows, stand-up comedy geniuses and magic acts. The bar portion of the space is cozy and calm, the Schlitz and PBR are always cold and cheap, and the popcorn machine is always soon to be empty.

8. Georgia Theatre

215 N. Lumpkin St. (ages 18 and older)

DETAILS: With its spiffy new paint job, the Georgia Theatre is looking better than ever. Though it's a haven for jam bands, the theatre plays host to all kinds of acts, from hip-hop to country to stand-up comedy. And during the off season is now being used as a recording studio, with Venice Is Sinking cutting an album there earlier this spring. If future Athenians know what's good for them, they'll make sure that this place survives until the end of time.

9. The Globe

199 N. Lumpkin St. (ages 21 and older)

DETAILS: If you like beer, this is on your list of top bars in Athens, with 14 draught beers and 70 bottled beers to sip while sitting at a long wooden table watching the world go by on the corner of Clayton and Lumpkin streets. Upstairs is as cozy as downstairs, and you'll never go home thirsty.

10. Go Bar

195 Prince Ave. (ages 21 and older)

DETAILS: Just about the only complaint ever heard about the Go Bar is that sometimes the late-night revelry on Saturdays wakes up Father David from St. Joseph's Catholic Church across the street. Disco and DJs dot the calendar of events here, but live bands love to have a GO as well.

11. The Library

420 E. Clayton St. (ages 18 and older)

DETAILS: Certainly a staple bar or club name in every college town, Athens' Library is one of the city's biggest clubs featuring an array of student-friendly musical visitors and has a full-service kitchen.

12. Little Kings Club

223 W. Hancock Ave. (ages 18 and older)

DETAILS: Little Kings may be best known as the place where iconic Athens rockers Pylon returned to the performance stage, but this comfy club at the corner of Hancock and Hull streets has since played host to a variety of attractions. If you've a hankering for the great outdoors, you can always step outside and engage in a spirited game of "cornhole" (also known as the beanbag toss). They don't call it the "Happiest place to drink on earth" for nothing!

13. Melting Point

295 E. Dougherty St. (ages 18 and older)

DETAILS: The city's premier listening room has been showcasing local, regional and national artists for the last three years, attracting many acts to the Classic City, including Little Feat, Aimee Mann and James McMurtry, that might not ordinarily drop by. Plus you can get delicious fries (or dinner) too.

14. Morton Theatre

195 W. Washington St. (all ages)

DETAILS: The Morton Theatre opened its doors in 1910 and for many years was the place to see and be seen in Athens' black community. The entire Morton Building (located on the "Hot Corner") was saved from destruction some 25 years ago and the theater now plays host to numerous community events and concerts, including the Flagpole Athens Music Awards. Of the Classic City's many treasures, the 500-seat Morton Theatre - listed on the National Register of Historic Places - is at the top of the list.

15. Nui's Space

396 Oconee St. (all ages)

DETAILS: Nui's Space is a nonprofit resource/support center that aids the city's musicians by providing inexpensive rehearsal space and a nice place to hang out, but its greater mission is to offer a nurturing environment where musicians can take advantage of free medical services, counseling and support groups. This one-of-a-kind locale, which has been endorsed by a veritable Who's Who of local and national musicians, is a prime reason there's no scene like the Athens music scene.

16. Redeemer Presbyterian Church

165 Pulaski St. (all ages)

DETAILS: Founded in 1996 as a small Bible study group, Redeemer has grown a great deal in its current location. Housed in the former Firestone Tire building on Pulaski Street across from the 40 Watt, the church's design incorporates industrial elements, such as the exposed steel beams in the church's sanctuary. With a variety of ministries and a strong music program, the church is theologically and not strategy driven, and many of the events the church hosts attract people who might not ordinarily darken a church's door.

17. Rye Bar

140 E. Clayton St. (ages 21 and older)

DETAILS: Formerly known as DT's Down Under, this basement-floor club began life in 1988 as the Downstairs Café, a vegetarian restaurant/nightclub, and became DT's in 1995. Located below street level on Clayton Street, Rye has been hosting some great acts in its latest incarnation.

18. Tasty World

312 E. Broad St. (ages 18 and older)

DETAILS: Open for a decade, Tasty World's longevity makes it one of the "deans" of downtown clubs. Housed in a former Frigidaire building, the three-story venue, which houses Republic Hair Salon on the top floor, is perhaps known best as a rocking joint. But owner Murphy Wolford and his crew are fearless when it comes to booking acts. Athens is a better place because of Tasty World.

19. Wild Wing Cafe

312 E. Washington St. (ages 18 and older)

The comfy interior of this second-floor club is a haven for open mic nights and occasional bands. And the beer is always flowing.